Electronic device for facilitating user interactions with graphical user interface

ABSTRACT

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a display screen and a computing hardware. The computing hardware is operable to execute a software product, wherein executing the software product results in generating and rendering a graphical user interface on the display screen, the graphical user interface being configured to facilitate user interactions, the computing hardware, the software product and the graphical user interface being implemented on a gaming system, the gaming system comprising a game, wherein the software product, when executed on the computing hardware, is configured to present a first view on the graphical user interface, present one or more user-selectable graphical objects on the graphical user interface, detect a user&#39;s selection of one of the one or more of the user-selectable graphical objects to be deployed in the first view on the graphical user interface, detect a user&#39;s selection of a deploy point on the first view, and execute deployment of the one of the one or more of the user-selectable graphical objects to the first view of the graphical user interface, wherein other set of graphical objects emerge from the one or more user-selectable graphical object and enter to the first view from one or more areas in a proximity of the deploy point.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems, and morespecifically, to electronic devices for facilitating user interactionswith a graphical user interface. Moreover, the present disclosurerelates to methods of facilitating user interactions with a graphicaluser interface. Furthermore, the present disclosure also relates tosoftware products stored on non-transitory (non-transient)machine-readable data storage media, wherein the software products areexecutable upon computing hardware of an electronic device to implementthe aforesaid methods.

BACKGROUND

Today, various electronic devices have been developed to provideuser-friendly interfaces for facilitating easy and quick userinteraction. Examples of such electronic devices include, but are notlimited to, smart phones, Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs), phabletcomputers, tablet computers, Ultra-Mobile Personal Computers (UMPCs),Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), web pads, handheld PersonalComputers (PCs), laptop computers, interactive entertainment computers,and gaming terminals. Most of these electronic devices includetouch-sensitive display screens, which make them more user-friendly andeasier to use.

In order to provide entertaining experience to users, various gamingsystems may be implemented on such electronic devices. An importantaspect of a gaming system implemented on an electronic device is an easewith which a user can interact with a user interface of a game tocontrol various operations of the game.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a known conventional userinterface of an example gaming system for implementation on anelectronic device; FIG. 1 represents prior art. The example gamingsystem includes a war strategy game in which a user's purpose is tobuild and expand his/her territory, for example, by attacking one ormore territories owned by other users or simulated opponents.

FIG. 1 depicts an example game view 100 of the example gaming system.The example game view 100 shows an enemy territory being attacked by theuser. The enemy territory includes a land region 102 and a shore region104. A plurality of target objects, depicted as a target object 106 aand a target object 106 b in FIG. 1, are positioned in the land region102. The user is typically required to destroy the target objects 106 aand 106 b to defeat his/her enemy.

In order to attack the target objects 106 a and 106 b, the user deploysa plurality of war-ships on the shore region 104, depicted as a war-ship108 a, a war-ship 108 b and a war-ship 108 c in FIG. 1 (hereinaftercollectively referred to as war-ships 108).

Typically, the user may deploy the war-ships 108 by selecting a desiredplace on the shore region 104, for example, by tapping with a finger orclicking with a pointer object. In an example situation where the userwishes to attack on the target object 106 a, before attacking the targetobject 106 b, the user deploys the war-ships 108 as close to the targetregion 106 a as is possible. The war-ships 108 may typically be deployedbeside each other.

Consequently, troops emerging from the war-ships 108 a and 108 b enterthe enemy territory via target routes 110 a and 110 b, respectively, asshown in FIG. 1. These troops attack on the target object 106 a, as theuser desired.

However, space available on the shore region 104 is often limited. In asituation where the war-ship 108 c is deployed after the war-ships 108 aand 108 b have been deployed, the war-ship 108 c is forced to bedeployed in a proximity of the target object 106 b, as shown in FIG. 1.The war-ship 108 c may, for example, be deployed in a place from whereboth the targets 106 a and 106 b are substantially equally distant.

Consequently, troops emerging from the war-ship 108 c have two possibletarget routes, depicted as target routes 110 c and 110 d. The targetroute 110 c leads the troops to the target object 106 a, while thetarget route 110 d leads the troops to the target object 106 b. As thetroops select a shortest target route from amongst the target routes 110c and 110 d automatically, it is not possible for the user to select aroute from which the user would want the troops to enter. In a situationwhere the target route 110 d is the shortest target route, the troopsemerging from the war-ship 108 c attack the target object 106 b, insteadof the target object 106 a. This makes it impossible for the user tocontrol deployment of these troops. As a result, the user may find itdifficult to define a war strategy as per his/her desire.

Therefore, there exists a need for a graphical user interface thatenables a user to define a strategy as per his/her desire.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure seeks to provide an electronic device.

The present disclosure also seeks to provide a method of facilitatinguser interactions with a graphical user interface.

In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide anelectronic device. The electronic device includes a display screen and acomputing hardware. The computing hardware is operable to execute asoftware product, which results in generating and rendering a graphicaluser interface on the display screen. The graphical user interface isconfigured to facilitate user interactions. The computing hardware, thesoftware product and the graphical user interface are implemented on agaming system. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the gamingsystem includes a war strategy game.

The software product, when executed on the computing hardware, isconfigured to present a first view of a map on the graphical userinterface. The first view of the map displays an enemy territory. Thesoftware product, when executed on the computing hardware, is alsoconfigured to present one or more user-selectable graphical objects onthe graphical user interface. The one or more user-selectable graphicalobjects may, for example, include one or more troop transportationunits.

Additionally, the software product, when executed on the computinghardware, is configured to detect a user's selection of one of the oneor more troop transportation units to be deployed to attack the enemyterritory, and detect a user's selection of a deploy point on the enemyterritory. The software product, when executed on the computinghardware, is configured to execute deployment of the one of the one ormore troop transportation units on the enemy territory, upon detectionof the user's selections. Consequently, troops emerging from the one ofthe one or more troop transportation units enter the enemy territoryfrom one or more areas in a proximity of the deploy point.

Apart from the one or more troop transportation units, the one or moreuser-selectable graphical objects may also include one or moresupplemental fires. The software product, when executed on the computinghardware, is optionally configured to detect a user's selection of oneof the one or more supplemental fires to be fired, and detect a user'sselection of a fire point on the enemy territory. Accordingly, thesoftware product, when executed on the computing hardware, is optionallyconfigured to execute firing of the one of the one or more supplementalfires on the fire point selected on the enemy territory, upon detectionof the user's selections.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the one of the one or moresupplemental fires is a flash fire that, when fired, re-directs thetroops to pass through one or more areas in a proximity of the firepoint.

Moreover, the software product, when executed on the computing hardware,is optionally configured to levy a cost of usage of the one of the oneor more supplemental fires. Optionally, the cost of usage may besubstantially different for each usage of the one of the one or moresupplemental fires. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the costof usage increases with each usage of the one of the one or moresupplemental fires. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, thecost of usage increases after the one of the one or more supplementalfires has been used a predefined number of times.

Moreover, the software product, when executed on the computing hardware,is configured to present a second view of the map on the graphical userinterface. The second view of the map displays one or more user-ownedterritories and one or more enemy territories. Accordingly, the softwareproduct, when executed on the computing hardware, is configured toenable a user's selection of one of the one or more enemy territories tobe attacked.

The second view of the map optionally includes one or more visible areasand one or more at-least-partially-hidden areas. In such a situation,the software product, when executed on the computing hardware, isoptionally configured to present a user-selectable map-resource objecton the graphical user interface, detect a user's selection of theuser-selectable map-resource object, and present a third view of the mapon the graphical user interface. Based at least partially upon theuser's selection of the user-selectable map-resource object, at leastone of the one or more at-least-partially-hidden areas of the secondview of the map is made visible on the third view of the map.

In an example embodiment of the present disclosure, the user-selectablemap-resource object includes a radar. Accordingly, the software product,when executed on the computing hardware, is optionally configured topresent a user-selectable upgrade option on the graphical userinterface, and detect a user's selection of the user-selectable upgradeoption. The software product, when executed on the computing hardware,is optionally configured to upgrade the user-selectable map-resourceobject, based at least partially upon the user's selection of theuser-selectable upgrade option. Consequently, the at least one of theone or more at-least-partially-hidden areas is made visible when theuser-selectable map-resource object is upgraded.

The software product, when executed on the computing hardware, isoptionally configured to levy a cost of usage of the user-selectablemap-resource object.

In order to detect user's selections, the electronic device alsoincludes a user input interface rendered over the graphical userinterface. The user input interface is configured to detect an inputcorresponding to moving a pointer object, clicking or tapping thepointer object, or swiping a touch-sensitive object over the graphicaluser interface.

Moreover, the electronic device optionally includes a database forsubstantially continuously recording and updating changes in status ofthe one or more user-selectable graphical objects. The software product,when executed on the computing hardware, is coupled to the database. Thesoftware product, when executed on the computing hardware, is optionallyconfigured to resume the status of the one or more user-selectablegraphical objects to their last updated status in the database, in caseof interruptions in the operable state of the graphical user interface.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of electronicdevices are coupled in communication with a server via a communicationnetwork. Graphical user interfaces are generated temporally concurrentlyon display screens of the plurality of electronic devices, to facilitateinteractions of a plurality of users with the graphical user interfaces.Beneficially, the graphical user interfaces generated on the pluralityof electronic devices are coordinated and synchronized through theserver, and updated on the plurality of electronic devices concurrentlywith time.

Examples of these electronic devices include, but are not limited to,mobile phones, smart telephones, Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs), tabletcomputers, Ultra-Mobile Personal Computers (UMPCs), phablet computers,Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), web pads, Personal Computers (PCs),Handheld PCs, laptop computers, desktop computers, Network-AttachedStorage (NAS) devices, large-sized touch screens with embedded PCs, andinteractive entertainment devices, such as game consoles, Television(TV) sets and Set-Top Boxes (STBs).

In another aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide amethod of facilitating user interactions with the graphical userinterface.

In yet another aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide asoftware product stored on non-transitory (non-transient)machine-readable data storage media, wherein the software product isexecutable upon computing hardware of the electronic device forimplementing the aforementioned method. The software product may, forexample, be downloadable from a software application store to theelectronic device.

Embodiments of the present disclosure substantially eliminate, or atleast partially address, the aforementioned problems in the prior art,and enable users to control deployment of troops, thereby enabling theusers to define a war strategy as per their desire.

Additional aspects, advantages, features and objects of the presentdisclosure would be made apparent from the drawings and the detaileddescription of the illustrative embodiments construed in conjunctionwith the appended claims that follow.

It will be appreciated that features of the present disclosure aresusceptible to being combined in various combinations without departingfrom the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appendedclaims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The summary above, as well as the following detailed description ofillustrative embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunctionwith the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the presentdisclosure, exemplary constructions of the disclosure are shown in thedrawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to specificmethods and instrumentalities disclosed herein. Moreover, those in theart will understand that the drawings are not to scale. Whereverpossible, like elements have been indicated by identical numbers.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:

FIG. 1 (Prior Art) is a schematic illustration of a known conventionaluser interface of an example gaming system for implementation on anelectronic device;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an example network environmentthat is suitable for practicing embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of various components of anelectronic device, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D are illustrations of an example game view of agaming system, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of an example screenshot of a game view of thegaming system, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of another example screenshot of the game viewof the gaming system, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of an example game view of the gaming system,in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C are illustrations of another example game view ofthe gaming system, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of yet another example game view of the gamingsystem, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 10 is an illustration of steps of a method of facilitating userinteractions with a graphical user interface, in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

In the accompanying drawings, an underlined number is employed torepresent an item over which the underlined number is positioned or anitem to which the underlined number is adjacent. A non-underlined numberrelates to an item identified by a line linking the non-underlinednumber to the item. When a number is non-underlined and accompanied byan associated arrow, the non-underlined number is used to identify ageneral item at which the arrow is pointing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of thepresent disclosure and ways in which they can be implemented. Althoughthe best mode of carrying out the present disclosure has been disclosed,those skilled in the art would recognize that other embodiments forcarrying out or practicing the present disclosure are also possible.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electronic device forfacilitating a gaming environment. The electronic device includes adisplay screen and a computing hardware. The computing hardware isoperable to execute a software product, which results in generating andrendering a graphical user interface on the display screen. Thegraphical user interface is configured to facilitate user interactions.The computing hardware, the software product and the graphical userinterface are implemented on a gaming system. In an embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the gaming system includes a war strategy game.

The software product, when executed on the computing hardware, isconfigured to present a first view of a map on the graphical userinterface. The first view of the map displays an enemy territory. Thesoftware product, when executed on the computing hardware, is alsoconfigured to present one or more user-selectable graphical objects onthe graphical user interface. The one or more user-selectable graphicalobjects may, for example, include one or more troop transportationunits.

Additionally, the software product, when executed on the computinghardware, is configured to detect a user's selection of one of the oneor more troop transportation units to be deployed to attack the enemyterritory, and detect a user's selection of a deploy point on the enemyterritory. The software product, when executed on the computinghardware, is configured to execute deployment of the one of the one ormore troop transportation units on the enemy territory, upon detectionof the user's selections. Consequently, troops emerging from the one ofthe one or more troop transportation units enter the enemy territoryfrom one or more areas in a proximity of the deploy point.

Apart from the one or more troop transportation units, the one or moreuser-selectable graphical objects may also include one or moresupplemental fires. The one or more supplemental fires may, for example,include one or more weapons, one or more ammunitions, one or more flashfires, and the like. The one or more supplemental fires may be firedfrom one of the one or more troop transportation units and/or abattle-ship positioned in a sea, for example, to supplement the troops.

The software product, when executed on the computing hardware, isoptionally configured to detect a user's selection of one of the one ormore supplemental fires to be fired, and detect a user's selection of afire point on the enemy territory. Accordingly, the software product,when executed on the computing hardware, is optionally configured toexecute firing of the one of the one or more supplemental fires on thefire point selected on the enemy territory, upon detection of the user'sselections.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the one of the one or moresupplemental fires is a flash fire that, when fired, re-directs thetroops to pass through one or more areas in a proximity of the firepoint.

Moreover, the software product, when executed on the computing hardware,is optionally configured to levy a cost of usage of the one of the oneor more supplemental fires. Optionally, the cost of usage may besubstantially different for each usage of the one of the one or moresupplemental fires. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the costof usage increases with each usage of the one of the one or moresupplemental fires. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, thecost of usage increases after the one of the one or more supplementalfires has been used a predefined number of times.

Moreover, the software product, when executed on the computing hardware,is configured to present a second view of the map on the graphical userinterface. The second view of the map displays one or more user-ownedterritories and one or more enemy territories. Accordingly, the softwareproduct, when executed on the computing hardware, is configured toenable a user's selection of one of the one or more enemy territories tobe attacked.

The second view of the map optionally includes one or more visible areasand one or more at-least-partially-hidden areas. In such a situation,the software product, when executed on the computing hardware, isoptionally configured to present a user-selectable map-resource objecton the graphical user interface, detect a user's selection of theuser-selectable map-resource object, and present a third view of the mapon the graphical user interface. Based at least partially upon theuser's selection of the user-selectable map-resource object, at leastone of the one or more at-least-partially-hidden areas of the secondview of the map is made visible on the third view of the map.

In an example embodiment of the present disclosure, the user-selectablemap-resource object includes a radar. Accordingly, the software product,when executed on the computing hardware, is optionally configured topresent a user-selectable upgrade option on the graphical userinterface, and detect a user's selection of the user-selectable upgradeoption. The software product, when executed on the computing hardware,is optionally configured to upgrade the user-selectable map-resourceobject, based at least partially upon the user's selection of theuser-selectable upgrade option. Consequently, the at least one of theone or more at-least-partially-hidden areas is made visible when theuser-selectable map-resource object is upgraded.

The software product, when executed on the computing hardware, isoptionally configured to levy a cost of usage of the user-selectablemap-resource object.

In order to detect user's selections, the electronic device alsoincludes a user input interface rendered over the graphical userinterface. The user input interface is configured to detect an inputcorresponding to moving a pointer object, clicking or tapping thepointer object, or swiping a touch-sensitive object over the graphicaluser interface.

Moreover, the electronic device optionally includes a database forsubstantially continuously recording and updating changes in status ofthe one or more user-selectable graphical objects. The software product,when executed on the computing hardware, is coupled to the database. Thesoftware product, when executed on the computing hardware, is optionallyconfigured to resume the status of the one or more user-selectablegraphical objects to their last updated status in the database, in caseof interruptions in the operable state of the graphical user interface.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of electronicdevices are coupled in communication with a server via a communicationnetwork. Graphical user interfaces are generated temporally concurrentlyon display screens of the plurality of electronic devices, to facilitateinteractions of a plurality of users with the graphical user interfaces.Beneficially, the graphical user interfaces generated on the pluralityof electronic devices are coordinated and synchronized through theserver, and updated on the plurality of electronic devices concurrentlywith time.

Examples of these electronic devices include, but are not limited to,mobile phones, smart telephones, Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs), tabletcomputers, Ultra-Mobile Personal Computers (UMPCs), phablet computers,Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), web pads, Personal Computers (PCs),Handheld PCs, laptop computers, desktop computers, Network-AttachedStorage (NAS) devices, large-sized touch screens with embedded PCs, andinteractive entertainment devices, such as game consoles, Television(TV) sets and Set-Top Boxes (STBs).

Referring now to the drawings, particularly by their reference numbers,FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an example network environment 200that is suitable for practicing embodiments of the present disclosure.The network environment 200 includes one or more electronic devices,depicted as an electronic device 202 a, an electronic device 202 b andan electronic device 202 c in FIG. 2 (hereinafter collectively referredto as electronic devices 202). The network environment 200 also includesa server 204 and a communication network 206. The server 204 is coupledto a database 208.

The network environment 200 may be implemented in various ways,depending on various possible scenarios. In one example scenario, thenetwork environment 200 may be implemented by way of a spatiallycollocated arrangement of the server 204 and the database 208. Inanother example scenario, the network environment 200 may be implementedby way of a spatially distributed arrangement of the server 204 and thedatabase 208 coupled mutually in communication via the communicationnetwork 206. In yet another example scenario, the server 204 and thedatabase 208 may be implemented via cloud computing services.

The electronic devices 202 are coupled in communication with the server204 via the communication network 206. The communication network 206 canbe a collection of individual networks, interconnected with each otherand functioning as a single large network. Such individual networks maybe wired, wireless, or a combination thereof. Examples of suchindividual networks include, but are not limited to, Local Area Networks(LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs), Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs),Wireless LANs (WLANs), Wireless WANs (WWANs), Wireless MANs (WMANs), theInternet, second generation (2G) telecommunication networks, thirdgeneration (3G) telecommunication networks, fourth generation (4G)telecommunication networks, and Worldwide Interoperability for MicrowaveAccess (WiMAX) networks.

Additionally or alternatively, the electronic devices 202 may use theirown “Bluetooth” network, and connect to a “Bluetooth” server, tosynchronize with other electronic devices. (“Bluetooth” is a registeredtrademark).

Examples of the electronic devices 202 include, but are not limited to,mobile phones, smart telephones, Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs), tabletcomputers, Ultra-Mobile Personal Computers (UMPCs), phablet computers,Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), web pads, Personal Computers (PCs),Handheld PCs, laptop computers, desktop computers, Network-AttachedStorage (NAS) devices, large-sized touch screens with embedded PCs, andinteractive entertainment devices, such as game consoles, Television(TV) sets and Set-Top Boxes (STBs).

The network environment 200 is suitable for operating various gamingsystems, simulation systems, or other similar systems. In an embodimentof the present disclosure, the network environment 200 is suitable foroperating an online multiplayer gaming system.

In one embodiment, the network environment 200 is used to implement athin-client game. Accordingly, the gaming system may be arranged in amanner that its functionality is implemented partly in the electronicdevices 202 and partly in the server 204.

In another embodiment, the network environment 200 is used to implementa thick-client game. According, the gaming system may be arranged in amanner that its functionality is implemented substantially in theelectronic devices 202.

In yet another embodiment, the network environment 200 is used toimplement a web-based game. Accordingly, the gaming system may bearranged in a manner that its functionality is implemented substantiallyin the server 204.

The electronic devices 202 may access the server 204 to download one ormore new games or update one or more existing games.

Users associated with the electronic devices 202 play one or more gamesprovided by the gaming system. The gaming system may enable the users tointeract and/or share some information with each other.

Additionally, the gaming system may enable some or all of the users toplay a game mutually, for example, against each other or as a team.Alternatively, the gaming system may enable the users to play theirindividual games irrespective of each other.

For illustration purposes, let us consider that a user A is associatedwith the electronic device 202 a, a user B is associated with theelectronic device 202 b, and a user C is associated with the electronicdevice 202 c. Let us also consider an example situation where the gamingsystem enables the users A and B to play a game mutually, for example,against each other. Accordingly, graphical user interfaces are generatedtemporally concurrently on display screens of the electronic devices 202a and 202 b, to facilitate interactions of the users A and B with theirgraphical user interfaces, respectively. In the example situation, theserver 204 coordinates and synchronizes the graphical user interfacesgenerated on the electronic devices 202 a and 202 b, and updates thegraphical user interfaces on the electronic devices 202 a and 202 bconcurrently with time.

Now, let us consider another example situation where the gaming systemenables the user C to play a game solitarily. In such a situation, theelectronic device 202 c need not be coupled to the server 204substantially continuously, for example, during playing of the game. Theelectronic device 202 c may be coupled to the server 204, for example,when downloading the game from the server. Additionally, the electronicdevice 202 c may be coupled to the server 204 periodically or randomly,for example, to receive updates from the server 204.

Furthermore, the server 204 stores game-related information in thedatabase 208. The game-related information may, for example, include atleast one of: accounts of the users, credits of the users, scores of theusers, status of games being played by the users, screen-shots of thegames, game-related parameters, game views being used by the users, gamelevels at which the users are playing, versions of the games, and/orassociated time-stamps.

Beneficially, the electronic devices 202 and/or the server 204substantially continuously record and update changes in the status ofthe games being played by the users in the database 208. The electronicdevices 202 are optionally configured to resume the status of the gamesto their last updated status in the database 208, in case ofinterruptions in the operable state of the graphical user interfaces.

Optionally, the game-related information, including information aboutthe changes in the status of the games, may be sent to the server 204 ina form of data packages. A data package may typically include a header,a payload and a checksum. The checksum can be a function of the payload.Alternatively, the checksum can be a unique identifier of the user, suchas a username being used by the user. Those skilled in the art willunderstand that an appropriate checksum function or a checksum algorithmmay be applied to a plurality of data packages to obtain the checksum,while the game is being played.

In order to avoid possible frauds, the checksum corresponding to aparticular data package can be recomputed at any point of time, andcompared with the checksum stored with that particular data package.Thus, including the checksum in the data package potentially reducesoccurrences of frauds in the game.

FIG. 2 is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope ofthe claims herein. It is to be understood that the specific designationfor the network environment 200 is provided as an example and is not tobe construed as limiting the network environment 200 to specificnumbers, types, or arrangements of electronic devices, servers,communication networks and databases. A person skilled in the art willrecognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications ofembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of various components of anelectronic device 300, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The electronic device 300 includes, but is not limited to, adata memory 302, a computing hardware such as a processor 304,Input/Output (I/O) devices 306, a network interface 308, and a systembus 310 that operatively couples various components including the datamemory 302, the processor 304, the I/O devices 306 and the networkinterface 308. The electronic device 300 also includes a power source(not shown in FIG. 3) for supplying electrical power to the variouscomponents of the electronic device 300. The power source may, forexample, include a rechargeable battery.

The data memory 302 optionally includes non-removable memory, removablememory, or a combination thereof. The non-removable memory, for example,includes Random-Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), flashmemory, or a hard drive. The removable memory, for example, includesflash memory cards, memory sticks, or smart cards.

The data memory 302 stores a software product 312, while the processor304 is operable to execute the software product 312. Executing thesoftware product 312 on the processor 304 results in generating andrendering a graphical user interface on the display screen. Thegraphical user interface is configured to facilitate user interactions.

The computing hardware, the software product 312 and the graphical userinterface are optionally implemented on a gaming system. In anembodiment of the present disclosure, the gaming system includes a warstrategy game.

Accordingly, the I/O devices 306 facilitate a user input interfacerendered over the graphical user interface. The user input interface isoptionally configured to detect an input corresponding to moving apointer object, clicking or tapping the pointer object, or swiping atouch-sensitive object over the graphical user interface.

The I/O devices 306 include a display screen for presenting graphicalimages to a user of the electronic device 300. Beneficially, the displayscreen may be a touch-sensitive display screen that is operable toprovide the user input interface. The touch-sensitive display screen isoperable to receive tactile inputs from the user. These tactile inputsmay, for example, include clicking, tapping, pointing, moving, pressingand/or swiping with a finger or a touch-sensitive object like a pen.

The touch-sensitive display screen is optionally configured to sense apressure applied by the finger or the touch-sensitive object. In oneexample, the touch-sensitive display screen may be a capacitive touchscreen that is operable to detect changes in capacitance. In anotherexample, the touch-sensitive display screen may be a resistive touchscreen that is operable to detect changes in resistance. In yet anotherexample, the touch-sensitive display screen is an optical touch screenthat is operable to detect changes in reflectivity.

Upon detecting the tactile inputs, the software product 312, whenexecuted on the processor 304, is configured to identify a gesturerelated to the tactile inputs. The gesture may take into account atleast one of: a force applied by the user, a pressure applied by theuser, a speed with which the pointer object was moved, a duration forwhich the gesture was applied, and/or a position on the touch-sensitivedisplay screen where the gesture was applied. Consequently, the softwareproduct 312, when executed on the processor 304, is configured toanalyse the gesture, and to apply an appropriate action corresponding tothe gesture.

Additionally or alternatively, the I/O devices 306 include a mouse, akeyboard or a joystick that is operable to receive inputs correspondingto clicking, pointing, and/or moving a pointer object on the graphicaluser interface.

Moreover, the I/O devices 306 may also include a speaker for providingan audio output to the user, and a microphone for receiving an audioinput from the user.

Optionally, the electronic device 300 includes non-transient datastorage arrangements, for example, such as a database (not shown in FIG.3). The software product 312, when executed on the processor 304, isoptionally coupled to the database. The software product 312, whenexecuted on the processor 304, is optionally configured to substantiallycontinuously record and update changes in status of a game being playedby the user in the database. The software product 312, when executed onthe processor 304, is optionally configured to resume the status of thegame to its last updated status in the database, in case ofinterruptions in the operable state of the graphical user interface.

Additionally, the software product 312, when executed on the processor304, may store game-related information in the database. Thegame-related information may, for example, include at least one of: anaccount of the user, credits of the user, scores of the user, the statusof the game, screen-shots of the game, game-related parameters, a gameview being used by the user, a game level at which the user is playing,a version of the game, and/or associated time-stamps.

Moreover, the network interface 308 optionally allows the electronicdevice 300 to upload the game-related information to a remote server(not shown in FIG. 3), for example, via a communication network (notshown in FIG. 3). Additionally, the network interface 308 may allow theelectronic device 300 to access the remote server to download one ormore new games or update one or more existing games.

Moreover, the network interface 308 optionally allows the electronicdevice 300 to communicate with other electronic devices, for example,via the communication network. The communication network may, forexample, be a collection of individual networks, interconnected witheach other and functioning as a single large network. Such individualnetworks may be wired, wireless, or a combination thereof. Examples ofsuch individual networks include, but are not limited to, LANs, WANs,MANs, WLANs, WWANs, WMANs, 2G telecommunication networks, 3Gtelecommunication networks, 4G telecommunication networks, and WiMAXnetworks. Additionally or alternatively, the electronic device 300 mayalso use its own “Bluetooth” network, and connect to a “Bluetooth”server, to synchronize with the other electronic devices.

The electronic device 300 is optionally implemented by way of at leastone of: a mobile phone, a smart telephone, an MID, a tablet computer, aUMPC, a phablet computer, a PDA, a web pad, a PC, a Handheld PC, alaptop computer, a desktop computer, an NAS device, a large-sized touchscreen with an embedded PC, and an interactive entertainment device,such as a game console, a TV set and an STB.

FIG. 3 is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope ofthe claims herein. It is to be understood that the specific designationfor the electronic device 300 is provided as an example and is not to beconstrued as limiting the electronic device 300 to specific numbers,types, or arrangements of modules and/or components of the electronicdevice 300. A person skilled in the art will recognize many variations,alternatives, and modifications of embodiments of the presentdisclosure. For example, the electronic device 300 could be implementedas the electronic devices 202, and vice versa.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D are illustrations of an example game view 400 ofa gaming system, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The gaming system may, for example, include a war strategygame in which a user's purpose is to expand his/her territory, forexample, by attacking one or more enemy territories. An enemy territorymay, for example, be a territory owned by another user or a simulatedopponent.

For illustration purposes only, let us assume that the gaming system hasbeen implemented on the electronic device 300. The software product 312,when executed on the processor 304, is configured to present the examplegame view 400 on the graphical user interface generated and rendered onthe display screen of the electronic device 300. The example game view400 may, for example, be a first view of a map that displays an enemyterritory being attacked by the user. The enemy territory includes aland region 402 and a shore region 404, as shown in FIG. 4A. A pluralityof target objects, depicted as a target object 406 a and a target object406 b in FIG. 4A, are positioned in the land region 402. The targetobjects 406 a and 406 b may, for example, include headquarters or otherdefence objects belonging to the enemy territory.

The software product 312, when executed on the processor 304, is alsoconfigured to present one or more user-selectable graphical objects onthe graphical user interface. The one or more user-selectable graphicalobjects may be presented within a selection-menu area 408 on thegraphical user interface, as shown in FIG. 4A. With reference to FIG.4A, the selection-menu area 408 has been positioned in a proximity of aperiphery of the graphical user interface. In one example, theselection-menu area 408 may be displayed substantially continuouslyduring playing of the game. In another example, the selection-menu area408 may be displayed as and when required, for example, when the userslides a pointer object towards the periphery of the graphical userinterface.

The one or more user-selectable graphical objects include one or moretroop transportation units, depicted as a troop transportation unit 410a, a troop transportation unit 410 b and a troop transportation unit 410c in FIG. 4 (hereinafter collectively referred to as trooptransportation units 410). Examples of the troop transportation units410 include, but are not limited to, war-ships, war-planes, war-vessels,and war-crafts. Use of the troop transportation units 410 may not belimited to transportation of troops from a user-owned territory to theenemy territory, but may additionally or alternatively include carryingweapons, ammunitions and other supplies for the troops.

The software product 312, when executed on the processor 304, isconfigured to detect a user's selection of one of the trooptransportation units 410 to be deployed to attack the enemy territory,and detect a user's selection of a deploy point on the enemy territory.The software product 312, when executed on the processor 304, isconfigured to execute deployment of the one of the troop transportationunits 410 on the enemy territory, upon detection of the user'sselections.

With reference to FIG. 4B, let us consider an example situation wherethe user selected a first deploy point 412 a for deploying the trooptransportation unit 410 a, a second deploy point 412 b for deploying thetroop transportation unit 410 b and a third deploy point 412 c fordeploying the troop transportation unit 410 c, for example, one afteranother. As shown in FIG. 4B, the troop transportation units 410 a, 410b and 410 c are deployed as close to their respective deploy points 412a, 412 b and 412 c as possible on the shore region 404. Beneficially,the troop transportation units 410 a, 410 b and 410 c are deployed to afree space that is nearest to their respective deploy points 412 a, 412b and 412 c.

Consequently, troops emerging from the troop transportation units 410 a,410 b and 410 c enter the enemy territory from one or more areas inproximities of their respective deploy points 412 a, 412 b and 412 c.With reference to FIG. 4B, curved arrows 414 a, 414 b and 414 c depicttarget routes taken by the troops emerging from the troop transportationunits 410 a, 410 b and 410 c, respectively.

Moreover, the software product 312, when executed on the processor 304,may be configured to enable a user's selection of a type of troop to bedeployed, for example, by providing one or more troop-type options onthe selection-menu area 408.

With reference to FIG. 4B, the troop transportation units 410 have beendeployed from the shore region 404. It is to be noted here that thedeployment of the troop transportation units 410 is not limited to theshore region 404. Troop transportation units, such as war-planes, may bedeployed at any deploy point on the enemy territory.

Moreover, in another example situation, one of the target objects 406 aand 406 b may be a defence object that applies various defencemechanisms, such as throwing flames or firing ammunitions, against thetroops that have entered the enemy territory. In such a situation, theuser may choose to supplement the troops, for example, by using one ormore supplemental fires.

Accordingly, the one or more user-selectable graphical objects mayinclude one or more supplemental fires. The software product 312, whenexecuted on the processor 304, is optionally configured to detect auser's selection of one of the one or more supplemental fires to befired, and detect a user's selection of a fire point on the enemyterritory. Accordingly, the software product 312, when executed on theprocessor 304, is optionally configured to execute firing of the one ofthe one or more supplemental fires on the fire point selected on theenemy territory, upon detection of the user's selections.

The one or more supplemental fires may, for example, include one or moreweapons, one or more ammunitions, one or more flash fires, and the like.The one or more supplemental fires may be fired, for example, from oneof the troop transportation units 410 and/or a battle-ship positioned ina sea near the shore region 404. With reference to FIG. 4B, the one ormore supplemental fires include a weapon 416, an ammunition 417 and aflash fire 418, presented within the selection-menu area 408.

With reference to FIG. 4C, let us assume that the user selected a firepoint 420 for firing the ammunition 417. Accordingly, the ammunition 417is fired at the fire point 420, as shown in FIG. 4C.

With reference to FIG. 4D, let us assume that the user selected a firepoint 422 for firing the flash fire 418. The user may use the flash fire418 to guide troops that have entered the enemy territory, for example,to enable the troops to reach a desired target object. In an examplesituation where the target object 106 a has been at least partiallydestroyed, the user may choose to attack the target object 106 b.

Accordingly, the flash fire 418 is fired on the fire point 422.Consequently, the flash fire 418 re-directs the troops to pass throughone or more areas in a proximity of the fire point 422. Accordingly, thetroops that have entered the enemy territory take a target route 424, asshown in FIG. 4D. The target route 424 passes through the areas in theproximity of the fire point 422, and re-directs the troops towards anearest target object. With reference to FIG. 4D, the target route 424re-directs the troops towards the target object 406 b.

In this manner, the gaming system enables the user to define a warstrategy as per his/her desire.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D are merely examples, which should not undulylimit the scope of the claims herein. A person skilled in the art willrecognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications ofembodiments of the present disclosure.

Furthermore, the software product 312, when executed on the processor304, is optionally configured to levy a cost of usage of the one or moresupplemental fires. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, thesoftware product 312, when executed on the processor 304, is configuredto allocate funds for usage of the one or more supplemental fires. Theallocation of the funds may, for example, be based on at least one of:points earned by the user, resources collected by the user, and/or acurrent score of the user. Accordingly, the software product 312, whenexecuted on the processor 304, is optionally configured to levy the costof usage from the allocated funds.

Additionally, the software product 312, when executed on the processor304, may be configured to increase the allocated funds during playing ofthe game. In one example, the allocated funds may be increased when theuser destroys one of the target objects 406 a and 406 b.

Optionally, the cost of usage may be substantially different for eachusage of a particular supplemental fire. In an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the cost of usage increases with each usage of theparticular supplemental fire. In another embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the cost of usage increases after the particularsupplemental fire has been used a predefined number of times.

In order to illustrate how the cost of usage may be varied, let usconsider an example table in which costs of usage of examplesupplemental fires have been provided. The costs have been provided inarbitrary units.

Supplemental First Second Third N^(th) Fire Usage Usage Usage Usage F1 24 8 2{circumflex over ( )}N F2 1 2 3 N F3 10 5 3.33 10/N F4 1 1.1 1.21 + (N − 1)/10 F5 1 4 3 Random

The column ‘First Usage’ provides a cost of a first usage of aparticular supplemental fire. The column ‘Second Usage’ provides a costof a second usage of the particular supplemental fire. The column ‘ThirdUsage’ provides a cost of a third usage of the particular supplementalfire. The column ‘N^(th) Usage’ provides a cost of an N^(th) usage ofthe particular supplemental fire, where N is any positive integer.

The supplemental fires ‘F1’, ‘F2’, ‘F3’, ‘F4’ and ‘F5’ may, for example,include one or more weapons, one or more ammunitions, one or more flashfires, and the like.

It can be seen from the example table that the cost of usage increaseswith each usage of the supplemental fires ‘F1’, ‘F2’ and ‘F4’. Thispotentially encourages the user to use the allocated funds for differentsupplemental fires, and not use a particular supplemental firerepeatedly.

In other scenarios, it can be seen from the example table that the costof usage decreases with each usage of the supplemental fire ‘F3’, whilethe cost of usage is randomly chosen for each usage of the supplementalfire ‘F5’. This may provide an element of surprise for the user, andmake user's experience of playing the game even more enjoyable.

Let us consider an example scenario in which the software product 312,when executed on the processor 304, has allocated ‘6 units’ as funds forusage of the supplemental fires ‘F1’, ‘F2’ and ‘F5’. In order tooptimize utilization of the allocated funds, the user may optimallychoose to fire the supplemental fire ‘F1’ once, the supplemental fire‘F2’ twice, and the supplemental fire ‘F5’ once. From the example table,it can be seen that:

the cost of a first usage of the supplemental fire ‘F1’=2 units

the cost of a first usage of the supplemental fire ‘F2’=1 unit

the cost of a second usage of the supplemental fire ‘F2’=2 units

the cost of first usage of the supplemental fire ‘F5’=1 unit

Therefore, the total cost of usage=2+1+2+1=6 units

In this manner, increase in the cost of usage potentially encourages theuser to use the allocated funds for different supplemental fires, andnot use a particular supplemental fire repeatedly. This facilitatesoptimal usage of the supplemental fires.

Costs of usages provided in the example table are merely examples, whichshould not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. A person skilledin the art will recognize many variations, alternatives, andmodifications of embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of an example screenshot of a game view 500 ofthe gaming system, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The game view 500 may, for example, be a first view of a mapthat displays an enemy territory being attacked by the user. The enemyterritory includes a land region 502 and a shore region 504, as shown inFIG. 5. Target objects 506 a and 506 b are positioned in the land region502. In an example, the target objects 506 a and 506 b may be ahead-quarter and a defence tower, respectively, belonging to the enemyterritory.

Troop transportation units 508 are deployed as close to their respectivedeploy points 510 as possible on the shore region 504. Consequently,troops 512 emerging from the troop transportation units 508 enter theenemy territory from one or more areas in proximities of theirrespective deploy points 510.

Moreover, the user may select a type of troop to be deployed, forexample, by selecting one or more troop-type options 514 provided on aselection-menu area 516.

In an example situation where the target object 506 b throws flames 518on the troops 512, the user may choose to supplement the troops 512, forexample, by using supplemental fires 520 provided on the selection-menuarea 516. The supplemental fires 520 may, for example, include one ormore weapons, one or more ammunitions, one or more flash fires, and thelike. The supplemental fires 520 may be fired, for example, from one ofthe troop transportation units 508 and/or a battle-ship 522 positionedin a sea 524.

In the game view 500, funds 526 have been allocated for usage of variousresources, such as the supplemental fires 520. When a particularsupplemental fire is fired, the cost of usage of that particularsupplemental fire is levied from the funds 526.

FIG. 5 is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope ofthe claims herein. A person skilled in the art will recognize manyvariations, alternatives, and modifications of embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of an example screenshot of a game view 600 ofthe gaming system, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The game view 600 may, for example, be a first view of a mapthat displays an enemy territory being attacked by the user. The enemyterritory includes a land region 602 and a shore region 604, as shown inFIG. 6. A target object 606 is positioned in the land region 602. In anexample, the target object 606 may be a head-quarter belonging to theenemy territory.

Troop transportation units 608 a, 608 b and 608 c are deployed to a freespace that is nearest to their respective deploy points 610 a, 610 b and610 c. Consequently, troops 612 emerging from the troop transportationunits 608 a, 608 b and 608 c enter the enemy territory from one or moreareas in proximities of their respective deploy points 610 a, 610 b and610 c.

With reference to FIG. 6, the troops 612 are attacking the target object606 from a particular location beside the target object 606. In order toguide the troops 612 to reach that particular location, the user selectsa flash fire 614 to be fired at a fire point 616. The flash fire 614may, for example, be fired from a battle-ship 618 positioned in a sea620.

FIG. 6 is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope ofthe claims herein. A person skilled in the art will recognize manyvariations, alternatives, and modifications of embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of an example game view 700 of the gamingsystem, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Theexample game view 700 may, for example, be a first view of a map thatdisplays an enemy territory being attacked by the user. The enemyterritory includes a land region 702 and a shore region 704, as shown inFIG. 7. A plurality of target objects, depicted as a target object 706 aand a target object 706 b in FIG. 7, are positioned in the land region702.

Let us consider an example scenario in which the user chose to deploy atroop transportation unit 708 a at a deploy point 710 a first. As shownin FIG. 7, the troop transportation unit 708 a is deployed to a freespace that is nearest to its respective deploy point 710 a.Consequently, troops emerging from the troop transportation unit 708 aenter the enemy territory from one or more areas in a proximity of thedeploy point 710 a, for example, to attack the target object 706 a.

In the example scenario, the user next chooses to deploy a trooptransportation unit 708 b at a deploy point 710 b that is positionedabove the deploy point 710 a on the shore region 704. With reference toFIG. 7, no free space is available on the shore region 704 above thetroop transportation unit 708 a. Consequently, the troop transportationunit 708 b is being deployed at a free space below the trooptransportation unit 708 a that is nearest to its respective deploy point710 b, as depicted by an arrow 712 a.

Troops emerging from the troop transportation unit 708 b enter the enemyterritory from one or more areas in a proximity of the deploy point 710b, irrespective of a location at which the troop transportation unit 708b is deployed. In this manner, the gaming system enables the user tocontrol deployment of the troops, thereby enabling the user to define awar strategy as per his/her desire.

Furthermore, in the example scenario, the user chooses to deploy a trooptransportation unit 708 c at a deploy point 710 c. With reference toFIG. 7, sufficient free space is available on the shore region 704.Consequently, the troop transportation unit 708 c is being deployed to afree space that is nearest to its respective deploy point 710 c, asdepicted by an arrow 712 b.

FIG. 7 is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope ofthe claims herein. A person skilled in the art will recognize manyvariations, alternatives, and modifications of embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C are illustrations of an example game view 800 of thegaming system, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. As described earlier, the gaming system may include a warstrategy game in which the user's purpose is to expand his/herterritory, for example, by attacking one or more enemy territories. Anenemy territory may, for example, be a territory owned by another useror a simulated opponent.

For illustration purposes only, let us assume that the gaming system hasbeen implemented on the electronic device 300. The software product 312,when executed on the processor 304, is configured to present the examplegame view 800 on the graphical user interface generated and rendered onthe display screen of the electronic device 300. The example game view800 includes a second view of the map depicted in FIG. 8A, a third viewof the map depicted in FIG. 8B, and a fourth view of the map depicted inFIG. 8C.

With reference to FIG. 8A, the second view of the map displays one ormore user-owned territories, depicted as a user-owned territory 802; oneor more enemy territories, depicted as enemy territories 804 a, 804 b,804 c, 804 d and 804 e (hereinafter collectively referred to as enemyterritories 804); and one or more friend territories, depicted as friendterritories 806 a, 806 b and 806 c (hereinafter collectively referred toas friend territories 806). A friend territory may, for example, be aterritory that may have been freed from an enemy. Additionally, thesecond view of the map displays one or more treasures, depicted as atreasure 808.

With reference to FIG. 8A, the user-owned territory 802 is located in amiddle portion of the second view of the map, for example, by default.The software product 312, when executed on the processor 304, may beconfigured to allow the user to slide the second view of the map in allthe directions, zoom-in to and zoom-out from the second view of the map,and so on.

The second view of the map includes one or more visible areas, depictedas a visible area 810, and one or more at-least-partially-hidden areas,depicted as at-least-partially-hidden areas 812. The user-ownedterritory 802, the enemy territories 804, the friend territories 806 andthe treasure 808 are located within the visible area 810, and therefore,are visible to the user.

The software product 312, when executed on the processor 304, isoptionally configured to present a user-selectable map-resource object814 on the graphical user interface, and detect a user's selection ofthe user-selectable map-resource object 814. Consequently, the softwareproduct 312, when executed on the processor 304, is optionallyconfigured to present a user-selectable upgrade option 816 on thegraphical user interface, detect a user's selection of theuser-selectable upgrade option 816, and upgrade the user-selectablemap-resource object 814, based at least partially upon the user'sselection of the user-selectable upgrade option 816.

In an example embodiment of the present disclosure, the user-selectablemap-resource object 814 includes a radar. Consequently, the softwareproduct 312, when executed on the processor 304, is configured topresent a third view of the map on the graphical user interface, asshown in FIG. 8B. Based at least partially upon the user's selection ofthe user-selectable map-resource object 814, at least one of theat-least-partially-hidden areas 812 of the second view of the map ismade visible on the third view of the map. Beneficially, the at leastone of the at-least-partially-hidden areas 812 is made visible when theuser-selectable map-resource object 814 is upgraded. In this manner, theuser may upgrade the user-selectable map-resource object 814 to exploreunexplored areas.

With respect to FIGS. 8A and 8B, an at-least-partially-hidden area 818on the second view of the map is made visible, and is shown as a visiblearea 822 on the third view of the map. As a result, a treasure 824located within the visible area 822 is now visible to the user.

Moreover, the software product 312, when executed on the processor 304,is optionally configured to levy a cost of usage of the user-selectablemap-resource object 814. The cost of usage of the user-selectablemap-resource object 814 may be different for differentat-least-partially-hidden areas. With reference to FIG. 8A, the cost ofusage of the user-selectable map-resource object 814 for theat-least-partially-hidden area 818 is displayed as a cost 820 beside theuser-selectable upgrade option 816. The cost of usage may be provided inany arbitrary units, and may be levied with respect to variousresources, such as gold, gems, wood and stones, collected by the user.

With respect to FIG. 8B, the user may next choose to make anat-least-partially-hidden area 826 visible, for example, by upgradingthe user-selectable map-resource object 814 again. With reference toFIG. 8C, the at-least-partially-hidden area 826 on the third view of themap is shown as a visible area 828 on the fourth view of the map.Consequently, the visible area 828 is now visible to the user.

Moreover, in an example situation where some or all of the enemyterritories 804 are owned by other users, the other users may beselected randomly, for example, when the second view of the map isopened. Alternatively, the other users may be selected by the userhim/herself. Yet alternatively, the user may invite other players tojoin the game, for example, using the network interface 308 of theelectronic device 300.

Beneficially, selection of the other users may be dependent on a gamelevel at which the user is playing the game. Accordingly, users playingat substantially similar game levels may be selected to play togetherwith the user.

Furthermore, the software product 312, when executed on the processor304, is optionally configured to enable a user's selection of one of theenemy territories 804 to be attacked. The one of the enemy territories804 selected by the user may then be displayed in a manner that issimilar to the first view of the map as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.

In a situation where the user attacks the one of the enemy territories804 and defeats the one of the enemy territories 804, the user receivesresources that were previously in possession of the one of the enemyterritories 804. The resources may, for example, include gold, gems,wood, stones, food, and so on. Accordingly, the software product 312,when executed on the processor 304, is optionally configured to transferto the user the resources that were previously in possession of the oneof the enemy territories 804, when the user defeats the one of the enemyterritories 804.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, the userreceives the resources that were previously in possession of the one ofthe enemy territories 804 at a time when the resources of the one of theenemy territories 804 were first revealed to the user. The resources ofthe one of the enemy territories 804 may, for example, be revealed tothe user when the user opens the first view of the map corresponding tothe one of the enemy territories 804.

For illustration purposes only, let us consider an example scenario asdescribed below:

1) At a time ‘t1’, a particular enemy territory has 150 units of aparticular resource, such as gold, in possession. Let us assume that theparticular enemy territory is owned by an opponent user.2) The user chooses to open the first view of the map corresponding tothe particular enemy territory, for example, to attack or visit theparticular enemy territory at the time ‘t1’ or a time that issubstantially close to the time ‘t1’, and finds that the particularenemy territory has 150 units of the particular resource in possession.3) The user subsequently chooses to attack the particular enemyterritory at the time ‘t1’ or the time that is substantially close tothe time ‘t1’. Let us assume that the user does not win a battle againstthe particular enemy territory. Accordingly, the particular resource maynot be transferred to the user. Alternatively, the particular resourcemay be transferred only partially to the user.4) Over a period of time, for example, at a time ‘t2’, the particularenemy territory earns and/or gathers more units of the particularresource, say 3000 units of the particular resource.5) The user chooses to attack the particular enemy territory again, forexample, at the time ‘t2’ or a time that is substantially close to thetime ‘t2’. The user sees that the particular enemy territory has 150units of the particular resource in possession, i.e., an amount of theparticular resource that was revealed to the user at the time ‘t1’ orthe time that is substantially close to the time ‘t1’. Let us assumethat the user wins the battle and defeats the opponent user.Accordingly, 150 units of the particular resource are transferred to theuser.6) As the opponent user lost the battle, the opponent user loses 3000units of the particular resource, i.e., 100% of the particular resourcehe/she had in possession at the time ‘t2’.

In this manner, the gaming system ensures that the user receives theamount of the particular resource that was first revealed to the user,as the user saw the amount as an opportunity when the user attackedagain. The gaming system also ensures that the opponent user loses 100%of the particular resource he/she had in possession, as it would not befair if the opponent user loses only 150 units from 3000 units of theparticular resource even after losing the battle. This potentially leadsto optimal distribution of resources, and facilitates a balance in aneconomic system between the user and the opponent user.

Furthermore, the user can receive additional resources from one or moreof the friend territories 806 that were freed from an enemy, forexample, as a reward for freeing the one or more of the friendterritories 806. Accordingly, the software product 312, when executed onthe processor 304, is optionally configured to transfer to the user theadditional resources from the one or more of the friend territories 806.Beneficially, the additional resources may be transferred on a periodicbasis. For example, a particular friend territory may transfer 10 unitsof a resource per hour to the user.

FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C are merely examples, which should not unduly limitthe scope of the claims herein. A person skilled in the art willrecognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications ofembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of an example game view 900 of the gamingsystem, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Theexample game view 900 displays a home base of the user. The home base ofthe user includes a land region 902 and a shore region 904.

One or more user-selectable graphical objects, depicted asuser-selectable graphical objects 906, are positioned in the land region902. In an example, the user-selectable graphical objects 906 mayinclude a head-quarter, one or more defence towers and other supportingstructures.

The user can create, build, move, update or upgrade the user-selectablegraphical objects 906. In one example, the user can use a new option 908to create new user-selectable graphical objects.

With reference to FIG. 9, one or more user-selectable options 910 arepresented to the user, for example, when the user selects one of theuser-selectable graphical objects 906. The user-selectable options 910may, for example, include an upgrade option that, when selected,upgrades the one of the user-selectable graphical objects 906 from itscurrent level to a higher level. Additionally, the user-selectableoptions 910 may include an information option that, when selected,provides the user with information related to the one of theuser-selectable graphical objects 906.

Optionally, one or more landscape objects, such as trees and cliffs, aredisplayed in the example game view 900, for example, corresponding to alandscape view selected by the user.

With reference to FIG. 9, an enemy can enter from the shore region 904to attack the home base of the user. The shore region 904 is beside asea 912 that surrounds the home base of the user.

A dock structure 914 is built in the sea 912. The dock structure 914provides a free space for docking troop transportation units 916, abattle-ship 918, and a cargo-ship 920. The cargo-ship 920 may, forexample, deliver supplies to and from the home base of the user.

Additionally, the user can use the new option 908 to create newtroop-transportation units and battle-ships. It is to be noted here thatthe free space of the dock structure 914 can be limited or unlimited,for example, depending on a game configuration being used.

Moreover, the user can access other game views from the example gameview 900. In one example, the user can access a map to select an enemyterritory to be attacked. The map may be accessed, for example, using amap-view option 922.

Typically, there are certain resources in possession of the user.Available resources are beneficially displayed to the user. Withreference to FIG. 9, the resources include gold units 924, gems 926 andwood 928.

The user can use some of these resources for various purposes. In oneexample, the user can use his/her resources to create or build certainuser-selectable graphical objects, such as defence towers, trooptransportation units, battle-ships and so on. In another example, theuser can use his/her resources to upgrade a user-selectable graphicalobject or a game level itself.

Information about an amount of these resources in possession of the useris optionally updated to a remote server, such as the server 204.Beneficially, the information may be updated substantially continuously.Alternatively, the information may be updated periodically.

Moreover, the gaming system may allow the user to receive additionalresources by making actual financial payments to the gaming system. Suchfinancial payments may, for example, be made using a payment arrangementthat is coupled in communication with the remote server.

Moreover, the example game view 900 also displays users' name 930 and acurrent score 932 of the user.

Additionally, the example game view 900 also displays a forum option934, and a trouble-shooting option 936. When selected by the user, theforum option 934 initiates a discussion forum with other users, whilethe trouble-shooting option 936 provides information that helps the userto trouble-shoot problems that he/she may have encountered.

FIG. 9 is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope ofthe claims herein. A person skilled in the art will recognize manyvariations, alternatives, and modifications of embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of steps of a method of facilitating userinteractions with a graphical user interface, in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure. The method is depicted as acollection of steps in a logical flow diagram, which represents asequence of steps that can be implemented in hardware, software, or acombination thereof.

As described earlier, the graphical user interface is generated andrendered on a display screen of an electronic device, by executing asoftware product on a computing hardware of the electronic device. Theelectronic device may, for example, be implemented in a manner that issimilar to the implementation of the electronic device 300 and/or theelectronic devices 202.

At a step 1002, a first view of a map is presented on the graphical userinterface. The first view of the map displays an enemy territory.

At a step 1004, one or more user-selectable graphical objects arepresented on the graphical user interface. The one or moreuser-selectable graphical objects include one or more trooptransportation units.

The steps 1002 and 1004 may be performed simultaneously.

At a step 1006, a user's selection of one of the one or more trooptransportation units is detected. In accordance with the step 1006, theone of the one or more troop transportation units is selected to bedeployed to attack the enemy territory.

At a step 1008, a user's selection of a deploy point on the enemyterritory is detected.

At a step 1010, deployment of the one of the one or more trooptransportation units on the enemy territory is executed. Consequently,troops emerging from the one of the one or more troop transportationunits enter the enemy territory from one or more areas in a proximity ofthe deploy point.

Optionally, the method may include additional steps at which a user'sselection of a supplemental fire to be fired and a fire point on theenemy territory are detected; and consequently, firing of thesupplemental fire is executed on the fire point selected on the enemyterritory. In an example situation where the supplemental fire is aflash fire, the flash fire re-directs the troops to pass through one ormore areas in a proximity of the fire point.

In this manner, the method enables the user to control deployment of thetroops, thereby enabling the user to define a war strategy as perhis/her desire.

Moreover, the method may include an optional step at which a cost ofusage of the supplemental fire is levied. The method may also include anoptional step at which the cost of usage is increased with each usage ofthe supplemental fire and/or after the supplemental fires has been useda predefined number of times.

Moreover, the method may include additional steps at which changes instatus of the one or more user-selectable graphical objects aresubstantially continuously recorded and updated in a database coupled tothe software product; and the status of the one or more user-selectablegraphical objects are resumed to their last updated status in thedatabase, in case of interruptions in the operations of the graphicaluser interface.

Furthermore, the method may include additional steps at which aplurality of electronic devices are coupled in communication with aserver via a communication network; and graphical user interfaces aregenerated temporally concurrently on display screens of the plurality ofelectronic devices. The graphical user interfaces are coordinatedthrough the server, and updated on the plurality of electronic devicesconcurrently with time, to facilitate interactions of a plurality ofusers with the graphical user interfaces. Beneficially, the method isimplemented to facilitate an online multiplayer gaming system.

The steps 1002 to 1010 are only illustrative and other alternatives canalso be provided where one or more steps are added, one or more stepsare removed, or one or more steps are provided in a different sequencewithout departing from the scope of the claims herein.

Furthermore, the method may include additional steps at which a secondview of the map is presented on the graphical user interface, whereinthe second view of the map displays one or more user-owned territoriesand one or more enemy territories. This enables a user to select one ofthe one or more enemy territories to be attacked.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C, the second view of the mapincludes one or more visible areas and one or moreat-least-partially-hidden areas. The method may include additional stepsat which a user-selectable map-resource object is presented on thegraphical user interface; a user's selection of the user-selectablemap-resource object is detected; and consequently, a third view of themap is presented on the graphical user interface. At least one of theone or more at-least-partially-hidden areas of the second view of themap is made visible on the third view of the map, based at leastpartially upon the user's selection of the user-selectable map-resourceobject. For example, the at least one of the one or moreat-least-partially-hidden areas is made visible when the user-selectablemap-resource object is upgraded.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a software product storedon non-transitory (non-transient) machine-readable data storage media,wherein the software product is executable upon the computing hardwareof an electronic device, such as the electronic device 300 or one of theelectronic devices 202, for implementing the method as described inconjunction with FIG. 10. The software product is optionally, forexample, downloadable from a software application store, for examplefrom an “App store”, to the electronic device.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are susceptible to being used forvarious purposes, including, though not limited to, enabling users tocontrol deployment of troops, thereby enabling the users to define a warstrategy as per their desire; facilitating optimal usage of supplementalfires; and facilitating a balance in an economic system between opponentusers.

Modifications to embodiments of the present disclosure described in theforegoing are possible without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure as defined by the accompanying claims. Expressions such as“including”, “comprising”, “incorporating”, “consisting of”, “have”,“is” used to describe and claim the present disclosure are intended tobe construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items,components or elements not explicitly described also to be present.Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to theplural.

We claim:
 1. An electronic device comprising: a display screen; and acomputing hardware operable to execute a software product, whereinexecuting the software product results in generating and rendering agraphical user interface on the display screen, the graphical userinterface being configured to facilitate user interactions, thecomputing hardware, the software product and the graphical userinterface being implemented on a gaming system, the gaming systemcomprising a game, wherein the software product, when executed on thecomputing hardware, is configured to: present a first view on thegraphical user interface; present one or more user-selectable graphicalobjects on the graphical user interface; detect a user's selection ofone of the one or more of the user-selectable graphical objects to bedeployed in the first view on the graphical user interface; detect auser's selection of a deploy point on the first view; and executedeployment of the one of the one or more of the user-selectablegraphical objects to the first view of the graphical user interface,wherein other set of graphical objects emerge from the one or moreuser-selectable graphical object and enter to the first view from one ormore areas in a proximity of the deploy point.
 2. The electronic deviceof claim 1, wherein the one or more user-selectable graphical objectsfurther comprise one or more supplemental fires, and wherein thesoftware product, when executed on the computing hardware, is configuredto: detect a user's selection of one of the one or more supplementalfires to be fired; detect a user's selection of a fire point in thefirst view on the graphical user interface; execute firing of the one ofthe one or more supplemental fires on the fire point selected in thefirst view on the graphical user interface; and levy a cost of usage ofthe one of the one or more supplemental fires.
 3. The electronic deviceof claim 2, wherein the one of the one or more supplemental fires is aflash fire, and wherein the flash fire re-directs the one or moreuser-selectable graphical objects to pass through one or more areas in aproximity of the fire point.
 4. The electronic device of claim 2,wherein the cost of usage is substantially different for each usage ofthe one of the one or more supplemental fires.
 5. The electronic deviceof claim 2, wherein the cost of usage increases with each usage of theone of the one or more supplemental fires.
 6. The electronic device ofclaim 2, wherein the cost of usage increases after the one of the one ormore supplemental fires has been used a predefined number of times. 7.The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the software product, whenexecuted on the computing hardware, is configured to: present a secondview of a map on the graphical user interface, wherein the second viewof the map displays one or more user-owned territories and one or moreenemy territories; and enable a user's selection of one of the one ormore enemy territories to be attacked.
 8. The electronic device of claim7, wherein the second view of the map comprises one or more visibleareas and one or more at-least-partially-hidden areas, and wherein thesoftware product, when executed on the computing hardware, is configuredto: present a user-selectable map-resource object on the graphical userinterface; detect a user's selection of the user-selectable map-resourceobject; and present a third view of the map on the graphical userinterface, wherein at least one of the one or moreat-least-partially-hidden areas of the second view of the map is madevisible on the third view of the map, based at least partially upon theuser's selection of the user-selectable map-resource object.
 9. Theelectronic device of claim 8, wherein the user-selectable map-resourceobject comprises a radar, and wherein the software product, whenexecuted on the computing hardware, is configured to: present auser-selectable upgrade option on the graphical user interface; detect auser's selection of the user-selectable upgrade option; and upgrade theuser-selectable map-resource object, based at least partially upon theuser's selection of the user-selectable upgrade option, wherein the atleast one of the one or more at-least-partially-hidden areas is madevisible when the user-selectable map-resource object is upgraded. 10.The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the software product, whenexecuted on the computing hardware, is configured to levy a cost ofusage of the user-selectable map-resource object.
 11. The electronicdevice of claim 1 further comprising a user input interface renderedover the graphical user interface, the user input interface beingconfigured to detect an input corresponding to moving a pointer object,clicking or tapping the pointer object, or swiping a touch-sensitiveobject over the graphical user interface.
 12. The electronic device ofclaim 1 further comprising a database for substantially continuouslyrecording and updating changes in status of the one or moreuser-selectable graphical objects, wherein the software product, whenexecuted on the computing hardware, is coupled to the database and isconfigured to resume the status of the one or more user-selectablegraphical objects to their last updated status in the database, in caseof interruptions in the operable state of the graphical user interface.13. A plurality of electronic devices of claim 1, coupled incommunication with a server via a communication network, graphical userinterfaces being generated temporally concurrently on display screens ofthe plurality of electronic devices, to facilitate interactions of aplurality of users with the graphical user interfaces, wherein thegraphical user interfaces generated on the plurality of electronicdevices are coordinated and synchronized through the server, and updatedon the plurality of electronic devices concurrently with time.
 14. Amethod of facilitating user interactions with a graphical userinterface, the graphical user interface being generated and rendered ona display screen of an electronic device, by executing a softwareproduct on a computing hardware of the electronic device, the computinghardware, the software product and the graphical user interface beingimplemented on a gaming system, the gaming system comprising a warstrategy game, the method comprising: presenting a first view of a mapon the graphical user interface, wherein the first view of the mapdisplays an enemy territory; presenting one or more user-selectablegraphical objects on the graphical user interface, wherein the one ormore user-selectable graphical objects comprise one or more trooptransportation units; detecting a user's selection of one of the one ormore troop transportation units to be deployed to attack the enemyterritory; detecting a user's selection of a deploy point on the enemyterritory; and executing deployment of the one of the one or more trooptransportation units on the enemy territory, wherein troops emergingfrom the one of the one or more troop transportation units enter theenemy territory from one or more areas in a proximity of the deploypoint.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or moreuser-selectable graphical objects further comprise one or moresupplemental fires, and wherein the method further comprises: detectinga user's selection of one of the one or more supplemental fires to befired; detecting a user's selection of a fire point on the enemyterritory; executing firing of the one of the one or more supplementalfires on the fire point selected on the enemy territory; and levying acost of usage of the one of the one or more supplemental fires.
 16. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the one of the one or more supplementalfires is a flash fire, and wherein the flash fire re-directs the troopsto pass through one or more areas in a proximity of the fire point. 17.The method of claim 15, wherein the cost of usage is substantiallydifferent for each usage of the one of the one or more supplementalfires.
 18. The method of claim 15 further comprising increasing the costof usage with each usage of the one of the one or more supplementalfires.
 19. The method of claim 15 further comprising increasing the costof usage after the one of the one or more supplemental fires has beenused a predefined number of times.
 20. The method of claim 14 furthercomprising: presenting a second view of the map on the graphical userinterface, wherein the second view of the map displays one or moreuser-owned territories and one or more enemy territories; and enabling auser's selection of one of the one or more enemy territories to beattacked.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the second view of the mapcomprises one or more visible areas and one or moreat-least-partially-hidden areas, and wherein the method furthercomprises: presenting a user-selectable map-resource object on thegraphical user interface; detecting a user's selection of theuser-selectable map-resource object; and presenting a third view of themap on the graphical user interface, wherein at least one of the one ormore at-least-partially-hidden areas of the second view of the map ismade visible on the third view of the map, based at least partially uponthe user's selection of the user-selectable map-resource object.
 22. Themethod of claim 21 further comprising: presenting a user-selectableupgrade option on the graphical user interface; detecting a user'sselection of the user-selectable upgrade option; and upgrading theuser-selectable map-resource object, based at least partially upon theuser's selection of the user-selectable upgrade option, wherein the atleast one of the one or more at-least-partially-hidden areas is madevisible when the user-selectable map-resource object is upgraded. 23.The method of claim 21 further comprising levying a cost of usage of theuser-selectable map-resource object.
 24. The method of claim 14 furthercomprising: coupling the software product to a database; substantiallycontinuously recording and updating changes in status of the one or moreuser-selectable graphical objects in the database; and resuming thestatus of the one or more user-selectable graphical objects to theirlast updated status in the database, in case of interruptions in theoperations of the graphical user interface.
 25. The method of claim 14further comprising: coupling a plurality of electronic devices incommunication with a server via a communication network; generatinggraphical user interfaces temporally concurrently on display screens ofthe plurality of electronic devices; coordinating the graphical userinterfaces through the server; and updating the graphical userinterfaces on the plurality of electronic devices concurrently withtime, to facilitate interactions of a plurality of users with thegraphical user interfaces.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein themethod is implemented to facilitate an online multiplayer gaming system.27. A software product stored on non-transitory machine-readable datastorage media, wherein the software product is executable upon computinghardware of an electronic device for implementing the method of claim14.
 28. The software product of claim 27, wherein the software productis downloadable from a software application store to the electronicdevice.